As Are, You, Excited Now? Speak up you frothing
Announcers…
Hmm, why did that title make me immediately
think of an ‘Ol Rush song titled Between the Wheels, and the words Another
Wasteland, Eh? Although it’s actually “another War, Another Wasteland and
Another Lost Generation”, Righto Geddy…
“To
live between the Wars in our time
Living
in real time
Living
in Good times
Holding
on to Yesterdays,
You
know how that Rabbit feels
Going
under your speeding wheels
Wheels
can cut you down
But
the Wheels of time
Just
pass you by”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj1eUnNOvpY
Spent the entire weekend of April 11-13
consuming four separate motor racing series, i.e.; IndyCar, IMSA, formula 1 and
MotoGP, Gulp! With my primary focus upon Indy Cars at The Beach’, ergo Long
Beach. Along with the IMSA Sprint race which featured the return of Robert
Wickens; beginning with Friday’s first IndyCar practice session.
Catching half of Saturday morning’s second
IndyCar practice on (Fox Sports) FS1, as FS2 pulled Ye ‘Ol Switcheroo. Bumping
the MotoGP Sprint race to that afternoon in favour of showing us more
Bassmasters, Fish On!
Then IndyCar’s Qualie’ session capped off by
the 140mins IMSA Sports Car “Sprint” race.
Next I “watched”, Err listened to the Bahrain
Grand Prix Sunday morning, followed by the Long Beach Grand Prix and the
nightcap being MotoGP’s delayed airing of the Qatar Grand Prix.
Now perhaps it’s just Mwah, but All of these
races seemingly blurred into one long set of Boring motor races! Especially
both F1 and MotoGP, the latter definitely not worth waiting until 9PM Pacific
to watch, Urgh! As what did Raymond Hando say about late race start times
ruining your day?
So, I didn’t catch the Australian Grand Prix,
other than listening to the Highlights package. Being the most exciting of the
season’s first four races, largely due to inclement weather, i.e.; passing rain
shower…
Yet Formula 1 has largely been processional,
even though I’m happy that Oscar Piastri has won twice from pole. Other than I
hope He won’t get too swell-headed over thinking He can win the championship.
As He’d be smart to ask His manager Mark Handlebarz’ Webber how that worked out
Yas Isle 15 years ago!
Cannot say that IndyCar has been Uber exciting
either, albeit at least there’s been passes for the win, even if Alex Palou won
the first two races, followed by second place at Long Beach, where effectively
Kyle Kirkwood led wire-to-wire from pole.
As it’s funny how at least the DW12 seems more
capable of following other racecars and allowing for passing, but is this a
biproduct of Firestone’s different rubber coumpounds?
Whilst Pirelli makes a range of different
compound tyres for Formula 1, the choice of five various compounds in this
range seems to be too small for meaningful tyre performance drop-off. As just
consider how many drivers ran a one stop race at Shanghai…
As it’s even more funny how the current F1
chassis regulations introduced in 2022 were specifically designed to allow for
the trailing car to run closer behind and encourage passing! Yet the ten F1
Constructors designs has seemingly converged to the point that this is no
longer applicable.
Making a Farce of Formula 1 further, is the FIA
instituting a mandatory second tyre stop at Monaco this year, to artificially
induce some passing upon the narrow streets of Ye Principality, where
overtaking is nye impossible…
Meanwhile, Team Penske and it’s factory Porsche
963’s have been untouchable. With the team’s No. 7 entry having won the first
three races, Yawn! As don’t know if Long Beach was their second 1-2 finish?
Whilst Ye Pinball Wizard’, aka Marc Marquez
returned to His domineering, winning ways in Qatar. Claiming His fourth,
consecutive pole, along with four consecutive Sprint races on the trot. Plus
His third Grand Prix win in Doha, Yawn!
Oops, what about the Shouting you might be
saying? As I just don’t understand why the various TV Announcers think they
need to Shout at us to get excited?
Although I did tune-in to my very first dosage
of the new FOX TV announce lineup. For which I must say, Will Buxton seemed
completely, totally out of place!
While Jack Harvey didn’t seem “Stiff” to Mwah,
just think it’s His dry, British accent coming across…
As my favourite Announce Duo of the weekend was
IMSA Radio’s John Heindhaugh and Ryan Marin during the Long Beach Sprint race.
As Marin manages to interject enthusiasm without shouting or screaming. And
Heindhaugh’s always entertaining.
Whilst the King of Screamers Kroftie’, aka Sky
sports f1 lead Pundit David Kroft was doing His usual bit to keep me awake thru
another boring F1 race!
And I don’t wanna say that the Long Beach
IndyCar race was boring, But! Even Mark Gravelly’ James didn’t bother shouting
euphorically over Kirk Kirwood winning, which speaks volumes to Mwah.
Yeah, it’s gonna be a Gory long, Hard season of
motor racing, if this it what will typically transpire the rest of the year,
outside that ‘lil ‘Ol Oval track at 16th and Georgetown. Provided we Don’t have
more multiple faux Red Flag stoppages, or some Golf game on Thy Telie!
Then again, I suppose a boring race weekend is
better than NO racing at all, Eh?
Partial song lyrics from: Between the Wheels by Rush. From their 1984 Album Grace Under Pressure.
